I'm all for free speech. I honestly don't mind that they paid for an ad that voiced their opinions. That being said, I'm unsurprised that they chose to exercise their freedom of speech by once again attacking Catholicism and seeking to muddy the real issues that surround US Catholics at present.

I'll take the text and respond - one at a time - to their ludicrous statements. My comments are in red.

Dear ‘Liberal’ Catholic:

It’s time to quit the Roman Catholic Church.

It’s your moment of truth. Will it be reproductive freedom, or back to the Dark Ages? Do you choose women and their rights, or Bishops and their wrongs? Whose side are you on, anyway?

And these are only a few examples- a very tiny sampling of the almost unfathomable amount of resources we dedicate to providing reliable, charitable healthcare to ALL people all over the world. But sure - this is simply a matter of us suddenly wanting to stop providing what is a vital part of our Catholic identity. Of course. That makes perfect sense. <sarcasm>

It is time to make known your dissent from the Catholic Church, in light of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops’ ruthless campaign endangering the right to contraception. If you’re part of the Catholic Church, you’re part of the problem.

I didn't realize that practicing my faith somehow trampled on your rights. In speaking out against this mandate, I'm not stopping you from purchasing condoms, pills or even abortions. I'm simply attempting to keep myself from footing the bill for your lifestyle choices, especially when those lifestyle choices go directly against my faith. Isn't this what you've always wanted? This is the Church attempting to stay out of your bedroom. Stay out of my wallet, k?

Why are you propping up the pillars of a tyrannical and autocratic, woman-hating, sex-perverting, antediluvian Old Boys Club?

Your proof for any of those completely fallacious statements is where? And that whole sex-perversion comment makes me laugh. We're upholding sexual intercourse to be a holy, beautiful and intimate bond between husband and wife. You folks are the ones attempting to make it a free-for-all that is free from emotion, respect, and responsibility.Why are you aiding and abetting a church that has repeatedly and publicly announced a crusade to ban contraception, abortion and sterilization, and to deny the right of all women everywhere, Catholic or not, to decide whether and when to become mothers?

Because the Church is correct in attempting to stamp out that which is morally bankrupt. We're NOT attempting to refuse women the right to choose whether / when to become mothers. They're perfectly capable of doing that on their own. It's as simple as saying "No, honey, not tonight." Or are you attempting to assert that women are ignorant and incapable of understanding their own bodies well enough to address this issue themselves without the aid of harmful chemicals /invasive procedures?

When it comes to reproductive freedom, the Roman Catholic Church is Public Enemy Number One. Think of the acute misery, poverty, needless suffering, unwanted pregnancies, social evils and deaths that can be laid directly at the door of the Church’s antiquated doctrine that birth control is a sin and must be outlawed.

Oh really? Reproductive freedom goes both ways, dear. How about we call it Reproductive RESPONSIBILITY. Folks don't want to accept responsibility anymore. It has nothing to do with freedom. It has to do with a refusal of responsibility. Freedom is as simple as saying "No, I'm not ready for a child, thus I'm not ready for the act that goes into creating a child" or even "I'm not ready (or willing) to have a child, thus I need to be aware of my body's signals that I'm fertile."

In the eyes of the Church, birth control, abortion and sterilization are mortal sins. Our doctrine on this is not something that can become "antiquated." So regardless of how much public opinion is influenced by your liberal thrust, the Church will remain firmly rooted in the Truth of the Teachings of Christ. Thus, call us outdated all you want. Truth is timeless, and no matter how many times you try to say 1+1=7, the Catholic Church will always discern your folly and seek to correct that folly for the good of Her people.

A backer of the Roman Catholic presidential candidate says that if women want to avoid pregnancy we should put an aspirin between our knees?

Apparently we must take his word for gospel because he's a Catholic. Good thing there haven't been any folks who parade themselves as Catholic and do / say some REALLY anti-Catholic things (Pelosi, anyone? Cuomo? I could go on). Catholic politicians are urging that the right to contraception should be left up to states? Nearly 50 years after the Supreme Court upheld contraception as a privacy right, we’re going to have to defend this basic freedom all over again?

Back to that whole "Truth is timeless" point. Just because the SC said something's A-OK doesn't mean we have to agree. We'll keep plugging away until all life (even that within the womb) is viewed with the respect and dignity it deserves.

You’re better than your church.

Correction - we ARE the Church.So why? Why continue to attend Mass? Tithe?

To worship God in a way He specified was holy and good.To join together as a community to renew our covenant with God as His family.To listen to the Word of God and participate in His Death and Resurrection.To partake of the Blessed Sacrament - something no other religion has.To bear our petitions before the Throne of the Lord on the wings of our angels.To unite ourselves more fully to the Church Triumphant, Penitent and Militant.To express thankfulness for the blessings we've received through Divine Providence.Annnnd, this list could seriously go on forever.

Why dutifully sacrifice to send your children to parochial schools so they can be brainwashed into the next generation of myrmidons (and, potentially, become the next Church victims)?

Of course it's seen as brainwashing to you. And that's fine - no one's asking you to send your kids to Catholic school. However, I know I intend to send mine to a Catholic school so they gain a firm foundation for TRUE Catholic teachings - not the misinformation you spread as fact.

I also appreciate the comfort of knowing Catholic education does a much better job of helping children succeed academically than its secular counterpart. And for the record, that information was compiled using the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

For that matter, why have you put up with an institution that won’t put up with women priests, that excludes half of humanity?

This simply shows your ignorance of Catholicism. ALL people are part of the royal priesthood (men and women alike). However, only men can belong to the ministerial priesthood through Ordination, and that's because women are NATURALLY able to become vessels of life. Men can only gain that gift through the vocation of priesthood (in bearing Christ to the people through Consecration). But since folks like you can't seem to grasp that dignity is not something measured by things you can pat yourself on the back for, just read this and learn why we believe women cannot be priests.

No self-respecting feminist, civil libertarian or progressive should cling to the Catholic faith.

Again, you're attempting to polarize things that honestly have no reason being a part of this discussion. You're attempting to shame folks into leaving the Church because you view it as anti-feminist, stifled and archaic. The Church is none of these things. We respect our women, we revere tradition, and we are able to grow in spirituality courtesy of the Holy Spirit. Just because we aren't willing to fall into the muck you call "progress" doesn't mean we can't be progressive. We just think your version of "progress" is highly suspect and can be likened more to humanity slipping BACKWARDS into slime and filth. As a Cafeteria Catholic, you chuck out the stale doctrine and moldy decrees of your religion, but keep patronizing the establishment that menaces public health by serving rotten offerings.

Your continuing Catholic membership, as a “liberal,” casts a veneer of respectability upon an irrational sect determined to blow out the Enlightenment and threaten liberty for women worldwide. You are an enabler. And it’s got to stop.

I agree that Cafeteria Catholics have to stop, but I think we differ on the reasons why, as these folks do nothing to cast ANY sort of respectability upon those of us who are faithful Catholics. And as for your talk of Enlightenment... well... that's obviously hogwash as Catholicism is a beacon of truth in your sea of folly. As much as you want to claim we're threatening women's health / liberty, we're probably the last bastion they've got that is willing to provide them the compassion and dignity they desperately need.

If you imagine you can change the church from within — get it to lighten up on birth control, gay rights, marriage equality, embryonic stem-cell research — you are deluding yourself.

For any Catholic that thinks they can change that stuff, you're not understanding the concept of dogma, and I'd agree with the statement of "you are deluding yourself."

If you remain a “good Catholic,” you are doing “bad” to women’s rights.

Not only is a non-Catholic attempting to tell me I'm being "bad" but an atheistic one who HATES Catholicism. No conflict of interest there, right? Excuse me, waiter... can I please have a heaping serving of salt to go with this garbage?

You’re kidding yourself if you think the Church is ever going to add a Doctrine of Immaculate ContraCeption.

I bet you thought you were hilarious with that one, didn't you? *Shakes head* That's pathetic.

It is disgraceful that U.S. health care reform is being held hostage to the Catholic Church’s bizarre opposition to medically prescribed contraception.

No, what's disgraceful is that the current administration is attempting to dismantle our 1st Amendment rights and a portion of the population is perfectly content to stand by because they don't understand / care what's going on.

No politician should jeopardize electability for failure to genuflect before the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Again, while I'm sure you thought your imagery was hilarious, you fail to make any sort of substantial point. No one is expecting politicians to genuflect before a bishop. We (meaning faithful Catholics) want politicians to uphold the office they were elected for. We want them to hear our voice and protect our right to freedom of religion. If they fail to uphold the dignity of their office, we'll be sure to give them a good old-fashioned boot come next election.

(Question to ask your Bishop: Does he hold up an umbrella against the rain? Isn’t that just as “unnatural” as using a condom or diaphragm?)

Again, this foolish question makes no sense, but it betrays your view of sex. For Catholics, sexual relations are a renewal of wedding vows. It is the total giving of self by husband to wife (and vice versa). Exactly what sort of loving, self-giving exchange is occurring between a human being and rain?

It's not a hysterical claim, but I know you're trying with increasing fervor to make others believe that's all it is. This is a proclamation of TRUTH.

You are savvy enough to realize that the real assault is by the Church against women’s rights and health care.

I see what you attempted to do there. I know you're attempting to stroke my ego and make me go "Yeah! I AM smart enough to realize the Church is really anti-women!"

Unfortunately for you, I'm actually much more intelligent and knowledgable about my faith than you are. So how about you back off with attempting to tell me what my religion stands for and you go about your business of trying to prove to yourself that there is no higher power awaiting you at death.As Nation columnist Katha Pollitt asks: Is it an offense against Jehovah Witnesses that health care coverage will include blood transfusions? The Amish, as Pollitt points out, don’t label cars “an assault on religious liberty” and try to force everyone to drive buggies. The louder the Church cries “offense against religious liberty” the harder it works to take away women’s liberty.

Mark Shea answers this way better than I ever could, so just read this.

Obama has compromised,

No, no he didn't. In fact, he outright lied.but the Church never budges, instead launching a vengeful modern-day Inquisition.

Look at its continuing directives to parish priests to use their pulpits every Sunday to lobby you against Obama’s policy, the Church’s announcement of a major anti-contraception media campaign — using your tithes, contributions and donations — to defeat Obama’s laudable health care policy.

Have you actually been to any churches on Sunday? That's an obvious "no."

The Church has introduced into Congress the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, ” a bill to place the conscienceless Catholic Church’s “rights of conscience” above the rights of conscience of 53 percent of Americans. That the Church has “conscience rights” to deny women their rights is a kissing cousin to the claim that “corporations are people.” The Church that hasn’t persuaded you to oppose contraception now wants to use the force of secular law to deny contraceptive rights to non-Catholics.

Wow - to be quite honest, you lost me at "conscienceless Catholic Church."Also, what is this "53 percent of Americans" you're referring to? But is there any point in going on?

Plenty, as you've yet to give me any solid reasons to leave what I know to be the fulfillment of God's promise for salvation. We have the Sacraments, we have true, moral guidance, we have a community of good, charitable people who seek to extend their hands to help Divine Providence along. We have the Church Triumphant and the Church Penitent pulling for us, and we've got the guidance of the Holy Spirit to navigate us through your treachery.

You've got what? Pills and condoms? Moral bankruptcy? A hopeless future in which life amounts to nothing more than personal gratification and selfish ideas of how others can be utilized for your own ends?

Yeah... no thanks.

After all, your misplaced loyalty has lasted through two decades of public sex scandals involving preying priests, children you may have known as victims, and church complicity, collusion and coverup going all the way to the top.

Ah, there it is... I was waiting for this to rear its head. Yes, we've had our share of fallen leaders, same as everyone else. There really isn't much we can do to rectify all the hurt and pain we've caused, but good luck to the world in attempting to pay us back for all the good we've done. We are a sinful people, but in the end, our track record is much more golden than tarnished. Though this is an ugly scar we will bear forever (and rightly so), it doesn't diminish the humane, holy, and charitable good we've done all over the world.Are you like the battered woman who, after being beaten down every Sunday, feels she has no place else to go?

Really? You seriously went with THIS imagery? I guess you're really trying to bring home your whole "the Church hates women" argument. Again - very sad.

But we have a more welcoming home to offer,

Like all those wonderful things I mentioned above??? Again - no thanks! free of incense-fogged ritual,

Also free from holiness, blessings and God

free of what freethinker Bertrand Russell called “ideas uttered long ago by ignorant men,”

Apparently free from common sense and knowledge of what Catholicism actually teaches, too.

free of blind obedience to an illusory religious authority.

And to top it off, free from absolutes, tradition and reality. Again, no thanks!

Join those of us who put humanity above dogma.

You're confusing humanity for personal gratification and immaturity - a life free from responsibility, meaningful relationships, and most importantly, God. Pardon me if I don't come rushing over to sign up.

As a member of the “flock” of an avowedly antidemocratic club, isn’t it time you vote with your feet? Please, exit en Mass.

Again, I realize you think you're hilarious, but wow. It's like your puns get more cringe-worthy with each passing paragraph! I'll continue voting with my feet straight up the Communion line where I can kneel before my Lord and my God to accept Him with love and joy, content to bear Him forth to others.

A well-written response on your part, although I think the ad by the Freedom From Religion leadership probably alienated potential allies rather than convince liberal Catholics to abandon the church "en Mass". The tone of the ad alternated between bullying and condescending; the jokes were smart-alecky and unfunny; and the authors of the ad tried to appeal to religious intolerance and bigotry rather than intellect and reason (a strange tactic by an organization supposedly dedicated to cool reason and rational thought). If I were still an atheist, I would have been embarrassed by the ad.

I also think the ad’s crack about parochial schools and the rather breathtaking suggestion that parents who send their children to these schools are guilty of complicity in sexual abuse won’t go over very well even with liberal Catholics. It has been my experience that Catholics and non-Catholics alike tend to have a very high opinion of the quality of education available in Catholic schools. I think the Freedom From Religion leadership unwisely let their arrogance get the better of them with that one.

You're 100% right on your comment "trange tactic by an organization supposedly dedicated to cool reason and rational thought." I honestly didn't even think of that!

You're also right that a lot of non-Catholics send their kids to Catholic schools simply because they view the educational quality to be superior. I would know - as someone who has been part of the Catholic school system as both a student and a teacher, most of the kids are non-Catholic. LoL.

The ad really doesn't make a whole lotta sense - on a variety of levels. But what else are we to expect from folks who know nothing about the faith other than the misinformation they've heard or the opinions they've drafted amongst themselves through the lens of the media?

Reply

Nicole P.

3/23/2012 10:35:40 pm

i find it amusing that the ad over and over made the argument that liberals can't be Catholic as well- that "real" liberals and real Catholics are mutually exclusive of each other. So apparently "real" liberals can only be atheists and "true believers" can only be conservative. As a liberal Catholic, I find this hilarious. This narrow minded view of, not just the Catholic Church, but of political viewpoints is so ridiculous I don't understand how they could possibly be taken seriously.

Assuming a Catholic holds true to the dogmatic teachings of the Church, it doesn't matter what your political leaning is. So you are quite right on that.

Reply

Sammy

3/24/2012 12:16:49 pm

I'm emailing this! Maybe you can take out an ad and post this instead? Your comment on facebook was right. They might have money, but we've got the Eucharist. Ooooooorah!

Reply

Sandy

3/26/2012 02:54:41 am

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! I found you through ACWB and had to send this to all my friends. I agree with Sammy above that you should take out an ad to post htis as response.

They've got a muslim one too (I saw you mentioned it). No wonder the NYT blocked it. Its perfectly ok to do this to Catholics but don't attempt to say anything about anyone else! Blek.